Edwin Rodríguez has been a member of the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) family for 18 years. He currently works within FTA's Office of Research. During his tenure, Rodríguez has consistently and dutifully proven to be an invaluable asset not only to FTA, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), but to the transit industry.
Rodríguez's level of professionalism and DOT-wide contribution has been recognized on numerous occasions to include the Commitment to Diversity Award by former DOT Secretary Mary Peters for his efforts to promote diversity. He has also been recognized by current DOT Secretary Ray LaHood for his effort at embracing cultural and ethnic diversity within the department.
Rodríguez's contributions to ethnic and cultural diversity are many. He is currently a member of Hispanics in Transportation (HIT), DOT Hispanic Affinity Group, the purpose of which is to promote ethnic and cultural awareness within the DOT. He participated in the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Summer Transportation Program for Diverse Groups (STIPDG) program for the past three years. The first two years his role was to evaluate applications as member of a team and to make final selection recommendations for student placement. In 2011, FHWA asked FTA to detail Rodríguez to FHWA for six months to run the entire STIPDG program. This involved setting up review teams, reviewing, and processing more than 400 student applications in 2011. The totality of his contribution is the placement of more than 300 students within the transportation industry. For many of these students, this is their first exposure to working in the transportation and transit industries. As a result of his efforts, many of these students will remain as contributing members of our industry.
Rodríguez also led the Careers in Transportation for Youth (CITY) Internship Program for FTA the past seven years. The CITY Program is a partnership effort between the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) and FTA. Over these seven years, the CITY Program has resulted in the submission and review of more than 700 applications and the placement of about 140 minority students within the transportation industry. Many of these students remain as working professionals within the transportation industry. Rodríguez currently mentors three FHWA student interns as part of its Student Career Employment Program.
Two years ago Rodríguez was appointed program manager of the Information Dissemination and Communication Program for FTA's Office of Research. Since then he has made a significant impact by completely revamping the dissemination and publication of FTA research documents. For the first time in FTA's history (since 1966), Rodríguez created a research report "brand" for research documents and publications that communicates to the transit industry FTA's commitment to high-quality, consistent research and relevant results. This branding of research reports and publications has been a huge success. So much so, in fact, that FTA executive leadership has adopted the branding agency wide.
Providing for People
"My internship with the TransTech Academy of Cardozo Senior High School in Washington, D.C., [was an] experience that provided me with multiple mentors that play a strong influence in choosing a career in public transportation.
"The industry provides mobility to all kinds of individuals of diverse backgrounds and economic levels. By working for the public transportation industry, it gives me satisfaction to contribute to all people, regardless of their backgrounds.
Out of the Office
"I am a huge University of Maryland football and basketball fan. GO TERPS!!! I attend their home and away games and I have served as a mentor to several student athletes. I enjoy it because this allows me to give back to my alma matter."
